Another thing to be thankful for is the support of the Fondriest brothers. Francesco treated me like family whilst he had the factory near Padua, I regretfully rarely see him these days as he only puts in an appearance in the VIP area of the Giro.
The final Saturday of Simoni’s first Giro win I was with the team at the hotel.Auro B. the commentator from RAI TV was there with David Casani the ex/cyclist/commentator also from RAI TV. Francesco had just presented Gibo with the pink “Fondriest bike” that he was going to ride in triumph into milano the next day. Auro turned to Francesco and said “now you should give skippy a bike, think of all the publicity”, of course I was standing there looking like a drowned rat wearing the RAI TV cycle suit which helped sway the story.
Some time later Francesco presented me with a black alloy frame which had been used that year by “Lampre team” and returned to the factory .this is the frame now painted “pink” by the English company who said they would do it free and after doing the job would not release it to the guy who made the arrangement with them until he gave them £155, I saw the invoice and he was embarrassed about the way they had done him down. Had he told me before paying I would have told them to “shove it”. they advertise in the comics “from £60”, also the mongrels did not provide any touch up paint. Start at the beginning of the alphabet and you know who they are! Stay clear do not learn the hard way that shaking hands does not cut it these days!
Notice the saddle, this is from my friend Luigi who runs “Selle San Marco”.At the 1999 Giro d’italia in Agrigento I was given the “Concor saddle by Johnny(I think he is Ivan’s bro, acts like it) when I was preparing for the start there. This was a nice guesture which I would suffer for as during the next week my derriere was on fire. I spent a lot of the second day and after standing on the pedals. During the next years I had no trouble changing one to another as they came to me. It was easy to realise why this was the saddle that Lance chose to use. About 5 years ago I started to use the bare “Magna” and whilst people shook their heads I found it the most practical seat for my purposes. This season I moved on to the carbon saddle and enjoy that one also. Luigi’s team has always made be happy to be using their products and I wish them the best for the festive season.
Shimano Italia also in the guise of Max at the beginning of the century saw that I was well looked after for replacement equipment and when I had defects I used to go by the factory if practical and get the troubles sorted, Max I gather spends more time flying helicopters these days. Maybe he goes to the Giro with Gianni Bugno who is a regular RAI commentator being their eye in the sky. Gianni has been a good mate as has his friends and mine Gianni Motta and Francesco Moser. Maurizio Fondriest also has helped me and I enjoy the rides with these three as they escort clients of their sponsor at the Giro. Francesco is not someone you try out nor Mauritzio but being older and generally going the full ettappe whilst they are only on a short circuit so I let the sprinters go and catch them when I get there.
So many people get on their bike at the bottom of the hill then ride up to you, recognise , drop back and then accelerate past and look back over their shoulder disappointed that you don’t take the bait. Who cares I am looking out for me and a safe arrival at the end of the etappe knowing that I have the rest of the tour to get through rather than give them a bar story.
When people ask if they can take photos I say “yes but give $10 to your national para . org. . I wonder how many honour that request, nothing is for nothing these days and even if some do the right thing it is another win.
In future blogs I will try to show why the team workers are my heroes but to all of the above and those that I have not got to yet I wish the compliments of the season. Safe holidays and keep well until we meet again.
Pay no attention to the dates on my blogs as I have the habit of remembering something and going back in and adjusting the names,language and spelling.
No comments:
Post a Comment